Honduras through to U-17 World Cup quarterfinals

Honduras' Brayan Velasquez is challenged by Rustamjon Ashurmatov of Uzbekistan during their FIFA U-17 World Cup Round of 16 match at Sharjah Stadium on October 28, 2013, in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. (Photo: FIFA via Getty Images)

SHARJAH, UAE – Honduras reached the quarterfinals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the first time after defeating 10-man Uzbekistan, 1-0, in the Round of 16 on Monday at Sharjah Stadium.

It will join another CONCACAF side -- Mexico -- among the final eight and play Sweden on November 1 in Al Ain City. The Swedes upended Japan, 2-1, earlier in the day.

For the second time in three matches, Jorge Bodden came off the bench to score for the Catrachos, netting the game’s lone goal in the 74th minute. Alberth Elis played a ball into the Uzbekistan 18-yard box for Brayan Velasquez, who slipped a pass for Bodden to poke inside the near post from the edge of the six-yard box to give Honduras a 1-0 lead.

Bodden also tallied a stoppage-time equalizer in a 2-2 draw with Slovakia in the group stage.

Uzbekistan, which finished second in Group C, was reduced to 10 men in the 24th minute, when defender Akramjon Juraboev committed his second bookable offense after pulling Velasquez back.

In a first half with few scoring chances, Honduras had the best two. In the 20th minute, Velasquez latched onto an attempted Uzbekistan clearance, but his shot was off target.

Six minutes later, Kevin Alvarez received a short pass from Fredy Medina, only to see his effort across the face of the goal go wide of the net. Alvarez also had Uzbekistan goalkeeper Sarvar Karimov beaten in the 62nd minute, heading the ball off the post.

Uzbekistan threatened to equalize late. Goalkeeper Cristian Hernandez, however, easily saved Javokhir Sidikov’s free kick in the first minute of second-half stoppage time as Honduras’ magical journey in the FIFA U-17 World Cup continues.